Manchester United moved into an eight-point lead at the top of the English Premier League and put the pressure on title rivals Manchester City with a 2-0 win over 10-man QPR at Old Trafford on Sunday. Reigning champions United’s victory left City knowing that if they lost away to Arsenal later on Sunday they would be eight points behind their cross-town foes with just six games of the season left.
“Today for us is like a final, otherwise eight points is too much,” City manager Roberto Mancini told Sky Sports before kick-off at the Emirates Stadium. Goals from Wayne Rooney and Paul Scholes saw United to victory but Rooney’s opener was controversial.
The England striker gave United a 15th minute lead from the penalty spot after QPR captain Shaun Derry was sent off for bringing down Ashley Young inside the area, with referee Lee Mason ruling he’d denied a clear goalscoring chance.
Mason’s decision was harsh on Rangers, who are still above the relegation zone on goal difference. Derry’s contact appeared minimal and Young looked to be offside.
“I thought it was offside,” said United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
“There have been lots of decisions like that in the last few weeks. The boy (Derry) did just enough to off-balance Ashley and, being the last defender, the referee felt he had no option.
“I felt we were a little bit out of our comfort zone after that, I didn’t enjoy it,” he added.
“Before the sending-off our speed was terrific, we had some good play, but the sending-off unsettled us and put us out of our comfort zone.”
Even though QPR keeper Paddy Kenny correctly dived to his right, Rooney’s well-struck penalty gave him his 30th goal of the season and left the visitors, managed by former United striker Mark Hughes, with a mountain to climb.
Kenny saved from Rafael da Silva and Danny Welbeck to keep QPR in the game until the 68th minute when he was beaten by a 20-yard shot from veteran midfielder Scholes, recalled from retirement this season by Ferguson.
Hughes confirmed QPR would appeal Derry’s red card in a bid to have him available for Wednesday’s match at home to Swansea.
“We’ll obviously try and appeal that and hopefully get that overturned by Wednesday,” he said. “We can ill-afford to have any more out.
“I think everybody understood that the boy (Young) was offside and that there was minimal contact. The boy has gone over too readily.”
